Fiona O'Loughlin
Question:416. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the level of delays for driving tests by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50779/17]
View answerWednesday, 29 November 2017
Questions (416)
Written answers
The average waiting times for driving tests at all centres are available on the Road Safety Authority (RSA) website at www.rsa.ie/en/RSA/Learner-Drivers/The-Driving-Test/Test-Waiting-Times. The average waiting time is an average of current waiting times for applicants at each Test Centre. Applicants will have waiting times both longer and shorter than the average.
The RSA is currently undertaking initiatives in order to increase capacity to deliver extra driving tests. These initiatives include the recruitment of additional driver testers and the delivery of 120 extra overtime tests per driver tester who participates. Other measures include initiatives to reduce the number of applicant no-shows at the driving test, and to reduce the number of non-conducted driving tests. The Authority plans to introduce a new test booking system in 2018 that will give test applicants much more control over their booking and appointment choice.
The Authority is committed to working with any applicants that require an urgent appointment. A priority list system is in place whereby cancelled test appointments are made available for such applicants. Over 1,000 tests are cancelled by driving test applicants weekly and these slots are subsequently offered to applicants who require urgent test appointments.
While I accept that current waiting times remain too high, I am assured that the measures the RSA has put in place will have the desired effect of reducing waiting times to the public.